WAR of 2012

The 2012 first-round matchup between the first-seeded Rangers and eighth-seeded Senators proved to be the most contentious series the Blueshirts have played in the Henrik Lundqvist Era.

Ill will, headshots and suspensions marked the seven-game affair from which six Blueshirts (Lundqvist, Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider) and six Senators (Craig Anderson, Erik Karlsson, Kyle Turris, Zack Smith, Mark Stone, Chris Neil) remain on their clubs’ active rosters. A recap of the series:

GAME 1 at MSG Rangers 4, Sens 2

The Blueshirts take a rather routine 4-2 opener for the series lead in what would be a calm before the storm.

GAME 2 at MSG Sens 3, Rangers 2 (OT)

Brian Boyle (pictured), a key figure in the series, gives Karlsson a few jabs to the face on his first shift and later is jumped and pounded by Ottawa’s Matt Carkner at 2:15 of the first period. Carkner receives a one-game suspension. Brandon Dubinsky comes to his teammate’s aid and is given a game misconduct. Carl Hagelin elbows Daniel Alfredsson in the face midway through the third period, an act that earns him a three-game suspension. The Senators tie the score 2-2 late in the third period before Neil wins it from in front at 1:17 of overtime to square the series.

GAME 3 in Ottawa Rangers 1, Sens 0

Lundqvist is brilliant in a 39-save, 1-0 shutout in which Boyle scores the only goal at 7:35 of the third period for the 2-1 series lead. Kreider, who had signed just days earlier after his Boston College Eagles won the NCAA Championship, makes his NHL debut in place of Hagelin and skates on a line with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik.

GAME 4 in Ottawa Sens 3, Rangers 2

The Blueshirts lose their seventh straight in overtime, a streak dating back to 2007, when Turris blasts a leftwing drive past Lundqvist at 2:42 for the series-tying, 3-2 victory. The Rangers had led 2-0 just 6:10 into the match.

GAME 5 at MSG Sens 2, Rangers 0

Neil’s unpenalized headshot on Boyle 5:20 into the third period concusses the center and knocks him out of the remainder of the series, which the Senators lead 3-2 after Anderson’s 41 saves blank the Blueshirts 2-0.

GAME 6 in Ottawa Rangers 3, Sens 2

Brandon Prust fights Neil in the first period and the Rangers rally from a 1-0 deficit for a 3-2 victory that sends the series back to New York for the climactic Game 7.

GAME 7 at MSG Rangers 2, Sens 1

Lundqvist makes 39 saves in a 2-1 victory on goals by Staal and Girardi as the Blueshirts advance to Round Two against the Capitals, after becoming the first NHL team since 1950 to win a Game 7 without a goal from a forward.